My Father did a little K&T New work, back when He first got into Electrical Contracting + He saw some of the "Old Timers" doing K&T work when He was still working as a Residential Framer / Carpenter.
He mentioned the "Dip Pots", which were used to tin the stripped Conductors. They were dipped into a Solder/Flux mixture (similar to Rosin or Acid Core Solders, I guess???...). This was heated by something similar to a "Pocket heater" which uses Napthalene as fuel, and has a "Contained" flame (like a large Zippo Lighter which keeps the flame lit when the top cover is closed).
After tinning, the Conductors were "Tied" into a "Joint" - typically a "Western Union" type of joint was used.
With the joint made, heat was applied to the central point of the joint, using either an Electric Iron, or a torch.
Rolled Solder was applied to the joint, which I would imagine had some type of Flux (either inert or paste applied with a brush).
After the joint cooled, tape was applied. The type of tape used is like a Cambric type of Friction Tape.
Some would reuse the dripped off Solder (dropping it into the tinning pot), others just left it for _Someone Else_ to deal with (i.e., Mr. Broom Pusher).
When I do any K&T work, I use Rosin Core Solder for tinning and finished joint. I use a 200 Watt Soldering Gun for the heat source (Induction type - like a small hand held Arc Welder, with a heating lead instead of an output arc - the typical Soldering Gun!).
To insulate and seal the joint, I use Heat Shrink tube and a few layers of "Good" Black Electrical Tape.
Wish I had more to contribute.
Scott35
